I can feel the hot tears prick my eyes, but I blink hard, keeping them at bay. “I would have walked away that night. If I had seen you, that would have been it for me. I was miserable, but I kept telling myself I was just homesick and needed a little more time to get over you. If I had seen you, I would have packed up and left with you.”
“I was there to give you this.” He opens his palm, and in the center lies a white gold ring, with a single sparkling solitaire diamond. “I had a scholarship, but I didn’t need to work. However, I did. I saved every dime to buy this ring. I wanted you to follow your dream, but I wanted you to know I would be there with you every step of the way. I didn’t know how we were going to make it work. All I knew was that I was broken without you. We’d talked about getting married and starting our lives, and well….” He nods toward the palm of his hand.
The tears I’ve been trying to keep at bay run freely down my cheeks. “I-I don’t know what to say. I can’t believe you kept this.”
“Yeah, I flew home and went straight to my dad and handed him the ring box. He didn’t ask questions. He just took the box from my hands. I’m sure the look on my face said everything he needed to know.”
“Why do you have it now?” I ask, staring at the shining diamond in the palm of his hand.
“I stopped by there this week, and without a word, Dad handed me the box. Not a single syllable was spoken, but again, it wasn’t needed. He knows how I feel about you, how I’ve always felt about you. After last night—” He stops, closing his eyes.
“Bash” I can barely speak. I’m so overcome with love for this man.
“After last night, I knew it was time. I know that I’m not taking you away from your dream… that you chose to be here with me. I could never have lived with myself if you gave it all up for me.”
“I’m not happy there. I’m not giving it up for you, but you are a big part of my happiness. You and Chloe, my parents. I miss home.”
I watch as he moves to climb out of bed and motions for me to come closer. Awkwardly, with the blanket held tight to my chest, I move to the edge of the bed. He hands me his T-shirt from last night before sliding into his jeans. With my hands clasped tight in his, he pulls me to stand and drops to his knees.
“Sebastian,” I whisper as tears begin to rain down my face.
“I love you, Haven. I more than love you, but I don’t know how to explain it to you. I don’t have the words, but I’m going to try. I fell in love with you when I was a kid. I didn’t know anything about living life, or being a parent, or making a relationship work. However, I did know that it was you. It’s always been you. In my wildest dreams, I never could have imagined that we would be here in this moment, but we are, and I’m seizing the opportunity. I don’t want another moment to pass by without you by my side. I want our forever, baby. Haven Decker, will you take my last name and help me raise my daughter? Will you have more babies with me? Will you grow old with me? Will you do me the incredible honor of being my wife? Will you marry me?”
I can’t see him through the tears, but I nod, knowing he’ll see me. I can’t speak from the emotions clogging my throat.
“I need your words, Have,” he says, his tone gruff.
“Y-Yes. Yes! I’ll marry you,” I say, finding my voice.
He stands, wrapping his arms around me tightly. I don’t know how long we stand here holding onto one another, holding onto our future, but it’s guaranteed to be a moment that neither one of us will ever forget.
Epilogue
Sebastian
Six months later
“Daddy, Daddy, let’s go! We’re gonna be late, and Miss Haven will be mad at us!” my daughter bellows from the open front door. I can practically see her tiny little foot tapping in frustration on the porch.
“I’m coming, sweetheart. Miss Haven won’t be mad,” I counter, locking the door behind me as I join her outside. The moment I do, she takes off for the vehicle and climbs in the back seat.
“Yes, she will. She’s ner-bis for today and wants it perfect,” she insists, buckling her seat belt.
“Nervous,” I correct, securing myself in the front seat.
Haven is very nervous, though she has no reason to be. Today is going to be perfect. It’s her first dance recital. I spent all morning at the gymnasium, helping her decorate and set up chairs. I left only long enough to pick up Chloe from Trina’s house and stop by my house to grab the costume. Everything about today has been a cluster—from the time Trina got called into work and we had to completely rearrange our weekend schedule. Then I forgot the costume at my place, just adding another layer of chaos.